​Looking ahead to regional, state, and even national conferences the key to success is participating in an event you enjoy. There are several aspects that go into picking the perfect event for you and I’m going to help you break them down.

InterestThe most important thing to consider is participating in an event that you are interested in. Whether it’s something you want to pursue as a career or not, the important part is that you enjoy the event. You can participate in more than one event so don’t worry if you want to participate in an event out of your career cluster, you can participate in one inside of your career cluster too! I, for example, am interested in law and engineering as possible careers, however, I always compete in a photography event at state conference because it’s my favorite event.CommitmentWhen deciding what event and how many events you want to compete you want to make sure you balance your commitment level to your preference. Some events require a lot of preparation before the conference, while others require minimal preparation beforehand and our intensive at the conference. If you know that you want to have fun at the conference hanging out with your friends, then you may enjoy an event like Website Design or Future Tech Teacher where you prepare beforehand and only do a short presentation and interview on-site. However, if you know that you don’t have time to prepare much beforehand, then you may enjoy an event like Problem Solving, On Demand Video, or Leadership Strategies where the preparation is getting to know the event, gathering materials, and creating a LEAP Resume. If you are like me and you like a bit of both, then just choose a mix of events from different commitment levels.Who will you work with?There are several different types of events: team events, partner events, and individual events. If you want to work on your teamwork and communication skills, team events may be for you. If you know that your schedule may be hard to coordinate with others’ to plan for meetings, then you may want to try individual events. If you aren’t sure, try a mix or stick to partner events as you can work together or each focus on a specific area of the event. With this in mind, don’t let concerns over who you will be working with dictate what events you will do. Even if you are working with your best friends you won’t enjoy the event if it’s something that you aren’t interested in.SkillsIf you are really good at a particular skill, then pursue that TSA event! If you want to develop a skill in a particular area, then pursue that TSA event! If you are interested in participating in an event because it interests you don’t let your skill level stop you, everyone has to start somewhere.MaterialsSome events require more materials than others, so you may need to take into consideration the materials that you or your chapter have the capability to acquire. If you really want to pursue an event and don’t think you can acquire the materials, don’t let that stop you. You can fundraise, ask for donations, or borrow from peers. If you have a desire to participate the TSA community will have your back, no matter what.

I hope that through all of this you have been able to see that there is truly a TSA event for everyone and a way to pick your perfect TSA event. If you ever need any guidance about picking an event or working on your event don’t hesitate to reach out! The officers, your chapter members, and your advisor are always here for each and every one of you.